Children Thrive With Structure

Kids thrive on structure. One excellent way to keep children motivated is by managing their expectations. When the class has the same structure, but marginally varying content, we keep their expectations properly calibrated.

Our class structure is entirely planned down to the very second. That’s not an exaggeration. We use timers to make sure of this. And our instructors move with a sense of urgency, accordingly.

Our instructors are given a plan with some wiggle room to adjust the plan based on the maturity of the group. There are no further deviations. We stick to our plan.

Especially for children, but honestly, even for adults: we keep things moving. Children simply don’t do well sitting around or waiting in line all day. And there is little worse or less valuable to a child than a long-winded lecture. Our classes are almost constantly in motion.

No student can struggle or suffer with zero intermission. Our class structure ebbs and flows. For example:

Strength Training (physically demanding)

Then…

Striking Lesson (mentally demanding)

Then…

Striking Practice (physically demanding)

This is the setup all class.

It of course varies by age group, but here’s what typical kids class looks like. And they range from 30 minutes (preschoolers) to 50+ minutes (adults).

Strength Training 5%
Virtue Training 5%
Striking Work (25%)
Grappling Techniques (25%)
Sparring or Grappling Rounds (25%)
Martial Arts Games + Evaluations (15%)

The students can always tell what type of segment is next (“okay next up is striking”) but the content varies such that novelty remains. It’s the perfect balance.